Nagibe Betros, helped introduce pita bread to WNY

Nagibe Betros, who with her husband introduced Western New Yorkers to Lebanese pita “pocket” bread, died unexpectedly Tuesday in her Town of Tonawanda home. She was 82.

Born Nagibe Germany in Kornayel, Lebanon, she came to visit family in the United States in 1953 and never returned after meeting her Lebanese-American husband, Peter M., and marrying him two weeks later.

She and her husband opened Pete’s Lebanese Bakery downstairs from their flat on Grant Street in 1957 and moved it to Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore in 1965. The bakery supplies pita bread to many area restaurants.

Known affectionately as “Mama,” she baked for more than 50 years and produced more than 400 loaves a day of “markook,” or Lebanese flat bread. She also made Lebanese specialty food items that were sold at the bakery. She retired two years ago.

Mrs. Betros was honored as Woman of the Year in 2004 by the Altar and Rosary Society of St. John Maron Catholic Church.

Her husband died in 1991.

Survivors include two daughters, Amelia “Amy” and Rosemary Lunghino.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. John Maron Church, 2040 Wehrle Drive, Amherst.